Kenny Chaffin, a former standout on the Mount Vernon Nazarene College men's basketball team, has signed a contract to play professional basketball in France beginning in August.
Chaffin, who wrapped up his stellar four-year career with the Cougars this season, becomes the third MVNC men's basketball player to sign a professional contract as he joins Adam Stevens and Todd Sands, who both played for the Coventry Crusaders in England.
Chaffin, a 6-foot-6 power forward, has signed to play for a team based out of Montivilliers, France, which is located in the Normandy region. The season, which runs from the middle of August through the middle of April, will consist of one or two games each week.
"Kenny has had an outstanding college career and is now being rewarded for his accomplishments," said MVNC head coach Scott Flemming. "He has contributed greatly to the all the success we have had as a team over the past four years. He has also been an outstanding role model and student while at MVNC. His strengths as a player will fit well into the European style of play. He is an athletic big man with exceptional perimeter shooting skills. This (signing professionally) has been a goal of his, and I am so happy that he is seeing it become a reality."
During his career with the Cougars, Chaffin averaged 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds over 133 games. He reached double figures in scoring in 93 of the final 102 games of his career, and he ranks third in school history with 2,062 points. He also holds the school records for most blocked shots in a season (73) and a career (196) and most field goals made in a career (801). Chaffin was a three-time NAIA Division II Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time National Christian College Athletic Association First Team All-American. He was also the Most Valuable Player of the 2002 NCCAA National Tournament as he led MVNC to its first national title.
"This is a blessing from God," said Chaffin, who could have returned to his hometown of Marysville, Ohio, and taken a teaching and coaching position there. "It is an opportunity to see other parts of the world and experience a different type of coaching philosophy."
